More than 1,000 people are expected to take part in the Urban Farming scheme, which will continue through the summer.

Schools, shops, hospitals, care homes, drop-in centres and the University of Teesside are all joining in.

Learning mentor Diane McLernon from Linthorpe Infant School, where pupils are ionvolved, said: “I think it’s important for them to know how easy it is to grow fruit and vegetables, which are healthy and organic.”

The project will culminate in a public banquet on Saturday, September 22, which will include meat from local farms.

Urban Farming project manager David Barrie said the scheme was designed to reduce the number of miles that food travels before it reaches our plates, which damages the environment.

“This project aims to make locally-produced food a new way of life in Middlesbrough and turn some of its ‘dead’ land into places to grow food for years to come.”

Middlesbrough Council has agreed to turn over some of its parkland and town centre planters for the project.